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Typhoon Rose (1971)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Rose was Category 4 typhoon that struck the northern Philippines
and later eastern China
in August 1971. Rose was most violent typhoon to strike Hong Kong
since 1962's Wanda
as the storm left 130 people dead (mostly in China) and severe damage although exact totals are unknown.
, detected on August 7, strengthened and became a tropical depression on August 10. Strengthening further, it became Tropical Storm Rose on August 11 as the storm moved westward.
Rose then became a Category 3 typhoon before striking the northern Philippines and entering the South China Sea
on August 14. On August 15, Typhoon Rose began to turn northeast and its eye flucuated in diameter. Data from satellites and Hurricane Hunter planes revealed that the typhoon was relatively small in size. Approaching land, Typhoon Rose reached its maximum winds of 140 mph and minimum barometric pressure of 952 millibars before making landfall west of Cheung Chau
on August 17. Rose then weakened to a tropical storm and dissipated after making landfall.
. As Rose was approaching to make landfall
, weather forecasters issued a hurricane warning. Its unclear if any evacuations took place.
_ship_damage.jpg)
While Typhoon Rose was still at sea, a ship reported winds of 100 mph and a barometric pressure of 953 millibars. Another ship reported a barometric pressure of 952 millibars seven miles away from the eye
.
Typhoon Rose made landfall in the Philippines and Hong Kong before becoming extratropical over eastern China. Weather stations in the Philippines reported 80 mph winds and a barometric pressure reading of 986 millibars but there were no reports of damage or deaths when the typhoon made landfall.
Many weather stations in and around Hong Kong reported wind gusts up to 175 mph and rainfall totals up to 161.7 millimetres (6.3 inch
es). Along the coast, the typhoon generated waves of 9.5 meters and a storm surge of 1.23 feet was recorded in Lantau. Typhoon Rose also produced a fog bank before making landfall which is unusual for a tropical cyclone
. The storm surge and heavy waves proved dangerous to ships offshore, at least 300 boats ships sank or were badly damaged by the typhoon, killing 110 people and injuring 283. On land, the typhoon left over 5,000 people homeless, disabled communications and washed roads out. Rose also caused a considerable loss in livestock and agriculture. A fire broke out at a power substation during the typhoon, causing a blackout which left thousands of people without electricity. Typhoon Rose was also responsible for the sinking of the Hong Kong-Macau
ferry, Fat Shan which resulted in the deaths of 88 people and accounted for most of the 110 fatalities attributed to Rose.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and later eastern China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in August 1971. Rose was most violent typhoon to strike Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
since 1962's Wanda
Typhoon Wanda (1962)
Typhoon Wanda was the most intense tropical cyclone on record in Hong Kong. It was the 59th disturbance in the record-breaking 1962 Pacific typhoon season, forming in August east of the Philippines...
as the storm left 130 people dead (mostly in China) and severe damage although exact totals are unknown.
Meteorological history
A tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
, detected on August 7, strengthened and became a tropical depression on August 10. Strengthening further, it became Tropical Storm Rose on August 11 as the storm moved westward.
Rose then became a Category 3 typhoon before striking the northern Philippines and entering the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
on August 14. On August 15, Typhoon Rose began to turn northeast and its eye flucuated in diameter. Data from satellites and Hurricane Hunter planes revealed that the typhoon was relatively small in size. Approaching land, Typhoon Rose reached its maximum winds of 140 mph and minimum barometric pressure of 952 millibars before making landfall west of Cheung Chau
Cheung Chau
Cheung Chau is a small island 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island, is nicknamed as the 'dumbbell island' for its shape. It has been inhabited for longer than most other places in the territory of Hong Kong, with a population of about 23,000 up to 2006...
on August 17. Rose then weakened to a tropical storm and dissipated after making landfall.
Preparations
A tropical storm watch (Stand By Signal in Hong Kong) was issued at 5:00 pm when Rose was located 400 miles southeast of the colony. On August 16, the tropical storm watch was changed to a warning by the Royal ObservatoryHong Kong Observatory
Hong Kong Observatory is a department of the Hong Kong government. The Observatory forecasts weather and issues warnings on weather-related hazards...
. As Rose was approaching to make landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
, weather forecasters issued a hurricane warning. Its unclear if any evacuations took place.
Impact
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
.
Typhoon Rose made landfall in the Philippines and Hong Kong before becoming extratropical over eastern China. Weather stations in the Philippines reported 80 mph winds and a barometric pressure reading of 986 millibars but there were no reports of damage or deaths when the typhoon made landfall.
Many weather stations in and around Hong Kong reported wind gusts up to 175 mph and rainfall totals up to 161.7 millimetres (6.3 inch
Inch
An inch is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, and United States customary units. There are 36 inches in a yard and 12 inches in a foot...
es). Along the coast, the typhoon generated waves of 9.5 meters and a storm surge of 1.23 feet was recorded in Lantau. Typhoon Rose also produced a fog bank before making landfall which is unusual for a tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
. The storm surge and heavy waves proved dangerous to ships offshore, at least 300 boats ships sank or were badly damaged by the typhoon, killing 110 people and injuring 283. On land, the typhoon left over 5,000 people homeless, disabled communications and washed roads out. Rose also caused a considerable loss in livestock and agriculture. A fire broke out at a power substation during the typhoon, causing a blackout which left thousands of people without electricity. Typhoon Rose was also responsible for the sinking of the Hong Kong-Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
ferry, Fat Shan which resulted in the deaths of 88 people and accounted for most of the 110 fatalities attributed to Rose.
External links
- Rose 1971 best track data
- Rose 1971 unisys track
- S. Campbell, "Typhoons affecting Hong Kong: Case Studies", Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyHong Kong University of Science and TechnologyThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is a public university located in Hong Kong. Established in 1991 under Hong Kong Law Chapter 1141 , it is one of the nine universities in Hong Kong.Professor Tony F. Chan is the president of HKUST...
, April 2005
